Cooking in the winter is a delight. As you stand by the warm stove, its heat and aromas will fill your house. The winter chill is softened by this warmth. A cozy evening indoors is all the more appealing when Jack Frost nips at your nose. As you cuddle up by the fire with your loved one (human or animal), a home cooked meal is a special way to enjoy the season.

Winter is the most still of the seasons. Ponds and lakes begin to freeze as the earth slows into quiescence. Badgers, bears, and other woodland creatures are in their hibernation burrows. Birds have migrated south to warmer climates. The midday sun brings little relief; its warm rays seem to barely reach the earth. December's chill forces you to turn up your collar and wrap your scarf all the way up to your cheeks.

Psychology - Emotions at Year's End

December is an intimate time of year. Fond memories of times passed and years long gone bring sentimental feelings for loved ones, family and friends. Long nights invite a cozy, quiet ambience.

The holiday season is in full swing and will likely be filling up your calendar. It can be challenging to stay grounded and adhere to routine when your social life is full of late night celebrations that keep you up past your bedtime. Social activities may include rich foods you try to avoid, lovingly offered. Couple that with the stress and excitement of preparing for the holidays, and you could easily run yourself ragged.

This is a time for harnessing flexibility and going with the flow when possible. Don't make yourself sick, but don't dig your heels in either. Embrace the season's joy, ripe with surprises.

All hearts go home for the holidays. Whether hosting family or traveling to visit loved ones, the challenges and rewards of family dynamics can bring out the best and worst in everyone. Remember, each precious member of your family offers an important opportunity for love, appreciation, and even for self-reflection - especially the ones who drive you crazy!

The holidays can be an especially challenging and lonely time. Perhaps you can't get home this year. Perhaps someone close you won't be attending holiday celebrations this year, a child or a parent, or someone who is no longer with us. If you find you're one of those folks feeling isolated, discover the joy of giving yourself generously to others by reaching out to close friends, finding a place to volunteer and joining in community.

The days are short and dark in December leading some to feel depressed. Lack of sunlight, gray skies and cold weather can make the days seem gloomy. On December 21st in the northern hemisphere, the sun is at a low point in the sky. The short daylight and relative lack of sunlight this time of year can cause depression due to vitamin D deficiency. In Scandinavia, Alaska, and other regions north of the arctic circle, the sun never actually rises above the horizon in December. You can take some cues from these northern neighbors to ward off Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Whether stringing lights on your house, or lighting the menorah, light plays a starring role in holidays around the world this time of year. A candlelight dinner is a warm way to invite December's intimacy into your life, and lift your spirits. Get out in the sun midday, even if just for 15 minutes, to ward off depression. Invest in a blue light, or think about taking Vitamin D supplements. Wear bright colors. Move. Dance, walk, pilates, workout videos, and racquetball - these will all get your blood moving, rekindle your metabolism, and lift your mood. Whatever your pleasure find a way to get regular exercise - even if it's indoors.

Climate

In December the air is crisper and drier. Your breath becomes visible. Cold air conveys purity, a pristine winter wonderland, as the cold makes for less smell (heat makes scents stronger). Snow begins to grace the landscape, making all things quietly beautiful. Early winter seems to sparkle with romance. The bright white blanket contrasts the gloomy skies and lack of sunlight. Smoke from chimneys evokes a warm cozy night by the fire. Sprinkling the fire with some cedar wood, or even pine logs brings a crisp, dry aroma.

Be mindful of the dramatic swings in temperature - from warmth indoors to freezing temperatures outside. Bundle up so you don't catch a chill as you make your way out into the blustery cold. Avoid sweating this time of year when outside otherwise you'll catch a chill. Dress in layers to do your best to keep body temp consistent. Refrain from cranking the heat too high - which can dry out the air. Instead don your favorite wool sweater and slippers around the house. A steaming hot morning shower before rushing off to work in the bitter cold is not ideal. Your pores will be open and blood vessels dilated from the shower, leaving your body and immune system vulnerable in the frosty air. Instead, give yourself a cool rinse before getting out of the shower to avoid shocking your system. Avoid going outside with wet hair.

December in the Body

Flus and colds are prominent in winter as your body reduces blood flow to the respiratory system in cold weather, to retain body heat. Your lungs may be ill-prepared for sudden exertion after stepping outdoors. Instead, let your body acclimate before dashing off. If shoveling snow causes you to breathe through the mouth, your lungs may cool down too quickly. If you feel cold, contracting pain in your lungs as you inhale, your lungs are too cold and especially vulnerable to respiratory infection. Instead, breath through the nose, and wear a scarf.

Nasal passages swell up when exposed to cold temperatures, to keep your sinuses warm. This warmth is essential for immunity. Cold temperatures render the immune system of the sinus inoperable. Your body may compensate with a runny nose, flushing bacteria out of the system.

Generally breath becomes shallow in winter, Dry, cold air is less appealing to imbibe. Counteract dry heat with nasya oil at night before bed. This will alleviate dryness and open up the sinuses and lungs. You may also find relief through Trikatu, a classic Ayurvedic formula for relieving excess mucus and Kapha.

Skin may be dry, pale and dull colored in winter due to vasoconstriction to the skin. Hands and feet may look lifeless as your body reduces blood flow to extremities in colder weather. To protect your skin, continue with abhyanga with Vata or Kapha Massage Oil throughout winter. These oils also have warming herbs in them which restore color and vibrancy to your skin. Oil also helps you retain heat so you feel warmer and your immune system is stronger.

Be sure to dress warmly and break out your winter gear - don't wait for Santa to deliver what you need to stay snug and dry as the first wisps of snow descend. This is a time of year to protect your immunity by keeping warm and insulated. The dead of winter is a time when both Vata and Kapha are easily aggravated due to the incessant cold. Warmth is the only common remedy between the two!

Pitta in December

Pitta individuals welcome the refreshing cold air. However, they will notice their appetites are even more ravenous than usual. Be sure to eat on time to avoid getting hangry! While the cold and darkness balance Pitta, their tendency to burn the midnight oil is especially detrimental during the darkness of December. The body needs extra rest this time of year. Pitta needs to surrender to it.

Kapha in December

If you've overstuffed yourself in November, you may find your Kapha is aggravated in early December - with symptoms of thick mucus and nausea. The string of winter holidays is a strain on your body as it is is oh-so-easy to overindulge in sweets and rich foods. Early December is peak season for stomach flu, nausea and Kapha type acid reflux. In Kapha type acid reflux, a thick layer of mucus makes digestion sluggish. Find relief from nausea with Joyful Belly's Digestive Bitters herbal formula. Use Mint Belly Bliss Tea to extinguish the fire of acid reflux.

Rich, fatty foods make the blood thick and sluggish which depresses metabolism and causes Kapha individuals to oversleep this time of year as well. The cold air, lack of exercise, and rich holiday foods invite blood stagnation. December is the first month of winter where signs of blood stagnation become prominent. Your skin may appear puffy and inflamed, especially on your arms and legs and anywhere circulation is poor. You may feel tired and sluggish both physically and mentally. This stagnation also further reduces immunity.

To get your blood moving again, try taking a hot bath at least once a week. Dress in layers and extra warm clothing, and drinking a 1oz glass of wine can warm up your blood on a cold night. Wine is sharp and pungent, dilating blood vessels. In small amounts wine gently stimulates the liver, which may be toxic and congested by the cold. Saffron and turmeric both warm and move the blood and can be used in cooking or teas. Take caution however not to catch a chill after drinking wine or tea or taking a bath. Make sure your environment and clothing after these activities are very warm, otherwise you'll catch a cold from the loss of body heat.

Vata in December

Vata individuals are still vulnerable to dehydration as cold air holds less moisture and causes you to pee more. Licorice Root is sweet and demulcent. It can help moisten tissues. Sip it in an herbal tea with a pinch of cinnamon as you sit by the fire to be sure you don't dry out.

Muscles may be tense and constricted this time of year as they brace your body against the biting cold. You may have to work harder to keep your muscles limber this time of year. Muscle cramps may be more common in the neck, shoulders and feet. Keep yourself supple by periodically massage sore muscles with Mahanarayan Oil.

Ayurvedic Routine for December

December is the prime month for overdoing anything and everything - holiday parties, homemade christmas cookies, eggnog - you name it! It's easy to stay up past your bedtime with Christmas specials on TV, children's holiday performances, late nights shopping, wrapping gifts and long lines at nearly every place of business. Be sure to rest your weary bones between these activities as your body would rather be hibernating than tackling a trip to the mall after work.

Get to bed by 10pm. To ensure that your gut is not working overtime while you sleep, don't eat after 8pm. Be sure to eat a warm breakfast before heading out into the cold. Sip hot water throughout the day as it is warming, hydrating and mildly cleansing. As days creep shorter and brisk air stings your skin, it's tempting to forgo exercise. Keep some form of movement in your routine to prevent thick blood from stagnating and the dark days from bringing you down.

Diet for December

By late December, the harvest bounty seems like a distant memory. Taking a moment to reflect inward, you realize that you are happy for the change in pace. Not only because the pantry is bare, but because your body really needs relief from the overstuffing of autumn. You realize that Christmas really IS a lighter meal than Thanksgiving, in more ways than one. While the Thanksgiving table is full of fatty desserts like cheesecakes and pudding pies, Christmas treats are noticeably less rich. Sugar plums and candy canes steal the spotlight instead.

The oranges of Thanksgiving give way to the deeper reds of mulled wine, dark brown gravies, and the purples found in red cabbage. Cravings for these darker colors represent your body's natural desire to build rakta, the red part of your blood. Every phlebotomist (a person who draws blood) knows that blood can be separated into two parts, the clear plasma part, and the red blood cells. Rakta is Ayurveda's term for the red part of the blood. Ever notice that everyone looks pale in the winter?

Cravings for red colored foods are your body's attempt to put some color back in your cheeks. These foods are also an important way to detox from too much celebrating. Red and purple color in food is rare and indicates an abundance of anticancer and antioxidant flavonoids. These phytonutrients increase the activity of the liver's detox enzymes, prevent tumor growth, soothe inflammation and scavenge free radicals.

John's interest in Ayurveda and digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel, including his public service work in South Asia.
John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem. His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion.
John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing.
In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.

John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots,
and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church.
Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick.
That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well.

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